SCIOTO LODGE HISTORY

As Scioto Lodge grew, the necessity of having some permanent home became apparent to the members. On July 18, 1808 Brother William Creighton presented proposals from Brother Humphrey Fullerton respecting the erection of a Masonic Hall, which is as follows:

“The subscriber will purchase one half of the East Lot of William Winship’s Block of lots binding on the alley and Second Street, will build a brick building of forty-eight feet by twenty-five, the first story thereof for the used of the Chillicothe Bank, will leave a passage of eight feet, and in fine complete the lower story of the house to be the exclusive property of the subscriber, the passage of eight feet excepted – the upper story, when compleat for use of the lodge will be deeded by the subscriber to the lodge – The Lodge building the upper story at their own expense”

This the lodge acceded to, and in deed of records, Volume 8 page 411, a deed from Thomas James and Wife to Thomas M. Bayley for the property on East Second Street, on the site now occupied by the Majestic Theatre, the south east quarter of the lot. Said deed carried the following exception:

“Except the upper story of the house which is not occupied as a lodge room for the Free Masons and the use of the entry leading to said room, the title to which remains with Thomas James.”

This meeting place was used by the members of Scioto Lodge from the time of erection in 1809 until the great fire of 1852 destroyed it. It was also the location of most, if not all, sessions of the Grand Lodge of Ohio until the year 1818. The meetings of the Grand Lodge of Ohio were held in Columbus in 1818 and did not again return to Chillicothe until 1852. This meeting took place October 19, 1852 and was held in Atheneum Hall, located on the North West corner of Walnut and Second Streets with 157 lodges represented by 406 voting members. The Grand Lodge of Ohio met in special session on June 3, 1853 when Most Worshipful Brother William B. Hubbard, Grand Master, laid the corner stone for the new Masonic Temple following the great fire of 1852. The work must have advanced very rapidly, because on October 18, 1853 The Grand Lodge of Ohio met in the new structure.